Indie Film of the Day: Michael Sundberg’s ‘Jacob’s Recall’
Today we’re shining a light on talented indie filmmaker Michael Sundberg and his newest piece Jacob’s Recall, a metaphysical drama that plunges the viewer deep within the narcissistic mind of Jacob Speltz, a Harvard dropout who lurches on the brink of suicide.
The inspiration for Michael Sundberg’s Jacob’s Recall screenplay came from his study of psychology, specifically personality disorders, that included analysis of recorded interviews with prisoners on death row.
1968 period piece Jacob’s Recall is intended not only to entertain with its mysterious storyline and silky cinematography, but also to boost suicide prevention awareness and fundraising through private screenings at charitable events around the globe. Jacob’s Recall is sure to clean up on the film festival circuit and has been submitted to several festivals across the USA and internationally.
IMDb confirms 2019 short release with plot involving mystical recall of events leading to death, anchoring the film’s timeline and clarifying its structure as a compact, introspective piece rather than a sprawling narrative.
Current Availability and Legacy
Available to stream on sofy.tv with synopsis matching original description, the short now sits on a platform that lets new viewers discover its layered approach to memory and consequence. The trailer uploaded by ML Sund on YouTube offers a quick entry point for anyone curious about the film’s tone before committing to the full runtime. A dedicated film page remains active on the filmmaker’s 2026-dated site, preserving credits, stills, and context for audiences who track Sundberg’s transition from engineering into cinema.
Festival Screenings and Recognition
Selected for Tokyo Lift-Off Film Festival June 2020 screening, Jacob’s Recall secured one concrete stop on the circuit that the original submission announcements had anticipated. The festival slot placed the film in front of an international audience already primed for concise, thematically driven shorts, giving the suicide-prevention message a focused platform at a moment when such conversations were gaining wider attention in independent circles.
Filmmaker's Continued Work and Branding
Active mlsund.com and Amazon author profile referencing the film and related works show that Sundberg has kept his earlier projects visible rather than letting them fade into archival silence. Copyright on the site updated to 2026 signals ongoing stewardship of the material, while the Amazon listings tie Jacob’s Recall to the Venus Anh trilogy and other screenwriting efforts under the ML Sund name. The presence of these pages offers a through-line from the 2019 short to the present without overstating new output.
Eagle Range Productions associated with the 2019 film per credits and producer testimonials, underscoring the partnership with Mark Heidelberger that helped bring the project to completion. The company’s humanitarian focus remains the stated through-line in the film’s production notes, even as subsequent activity has stayed modest.
Sundberg’s first short film, A Journey to Rome – Discovering Venus Anh, a 2019 documentary-style photo essay, has won laurels including a nomination for Best First-Time Director at the Alternative Film Festival in Toronto. This Canadian-born filmmaker delved into the craft just one year ago after a thirty-year career in engineering and project management. His parallel pursuits during that time included photography and story writing. Under Sundberg’s pen name ML Sund, he published his first book, the epic poem of Venus Anh, as part of a fictional trilogy set in ancient Rome. The fusion of his myriad skills and passions naturally led him to what he considers a paramount artform: moviemaking. Sundberg, in collaboration with seasoned Hollywood producer Mark Heidelberger, recently established LA-based Eagle Range Productions, a company focused on making films that support humanitarian causes. He’s absolutely one to watch this year. Don’t believe us? Hear it from the mouths of the professionals. “Sundberg’s short film, Jacob’s Recall, delivers a powerful message about suicide prevention in a most creative and compelling way. With dreamy cinematic sequences and subliminal elements, you’ll want to watch this film more than once.” —Sue Griffin, Director Philanthropy, Canadian Mental Health Association, Vancouver-Fraser “In Jacob’s Recall, Sundberg distinguishes himself as a filmmaker with a unique voice and innovative narrative style. It’s hard to find original short films that deliver with impact – Jacob’s Recall does just that.” —Wendy Kram, producer & script consultant, Santa Monica “More than just an entertaining short film, Jacob’s Recall addresses the serious issue of suicide prevention with a perfect balance of sensitivity and directness. I think it has a real chance of impacting people’s lives.” —Nancy Fulton, publisher and producer, Los Angeles “Jacob’s Recall grips you from the opening frame and holds you until the final dramatic moment. It delivers a powerful message on the underlying issues that can lead to suicide.” —Debbie Bevilacqua, B.A. Speech Science, Vancouver — Follow Jacob’s Recall on Facebook.
